Affordable restaurants near campus popular with students
Right off campus:
Medici - the quintessential student restaurant. Try the spinach and goat cheese pizza, the sandwiches, and the Mexicana shake.
Noodles Etc. - Good pan-Asian noodles spot
Plein Air - Somewhat pricey but good cafe in the Seminary Co-op building, make sure to check out the bookshop if you decide to go
Farther north on 53rd:
Valois - Classic diner, cash only, dirt cheap, Obama’s favorite restaurant
Shinju - Has an all you can eat sushi option, decent Japanese
Rajun Cajun - Decent no-frills Indian
Harold’s - Fried chicken, no vegetarian options, even-fewer-frills South Side institution
Mikkey’s - Great burgers, wings, and shakes
Two popular Thai places farther east on 55th are Thai 55 and Snail Thai, which serve all the classics.
Stuff you won’t find in Hyde Park: Good Mexican or Chinese. For the former, Cemitas Puebla on 57th and Hyde Park Tacos on 53rd are both decent, but with very limited menus. For the latter, there aren’t any good options - go to one of the four Thai places (55, Snail, Siam, Eto’o), two Japanese places (Shinju, Kikuya), or Noodles Etc. instead, do not go to Nicky’s.